Marshall says, “Having a few friends that live throughout the Corn Belt and asking them how their weather and crops are doing isn’t a bad idea. I have a few Facebook friends, and ask them about their crops, we trade information back and forth, they also buy commodities and we give them a heads up on the cotton crop. I don’t just trust one person. I get a lot of information from several.”
Misty says, “I take the information Marshall gets, correlate it with whether information, that way we get a bigger picture from just a few people. We also can figure out if it’s going to be a local event or a regional one. In short there is a lot more work behind a commodity buys then just taking a cheap one hoping it goes higher. You have to do your due diligence on any commodity or stock to actually make money.”
Reese asks, “How do you guys keep track of all this?”
Marshall and Misty say in unison, “JJ and Kathryn.” Marshall continues, “They both have memories that let them access all this information faster than any supercomputer. They’re both natural wonders like that.”
With a chuckle I say, “We’re not the only two people in the world like that. As a matter of fact Sam also has that type of memory. That’s how she knew corn would be a great buy.”
Reese giggling says, “Remind me never to promise Sam something lightly she will never let me forget it.”
I ask, “Reese what did you promise my daughter?”
With a giggle she says, “I promised her I would teach her how to shoot a rifle.”
I raise an eyebrow before I say, “You do know I’ll make her wait until she is at least twelve, before you have to fulfill that promise, and yes Sam will not let you forget it.”
Reese groans before she says, “That’s eight years from now. I’m not sure I will remember how to shoot in eight years.”
Ron chuckles before he says, “She remembers what I told her when she was only two. I’m sure she will remember what you promise last Friday. Besides that I seriously doubt you forget how to shoot, Ms. Anny Oakley, you know you qualified expert every time.”
Reese finally giggles and says, “Just being able to hit a paper target isn’t all that is involved. There is a lot of safety and more importantly knowing when there’s no other option than to shoot.”
I tell Reese, “That gives me eight years to teach her that. By the time you teacher how to shoot her martial arts will be deadly from about age nine on.” I lift my shirt and show the couple bruises that still linger and say, “Those are from about ten days ago. Sam’s gotten better at pulling her punches.”
Ron seeing bruises asks, “Sam really did those?”
With a chuckle I say proudly, “She’s very fast, and stronger than she looks. When she gets a little more size on her, she will be throwing around football players if they bother her.”
Ron asks, “You really think so. Like Kathryn or Misty could do that if you train them.”
Misty giggles before she says, “JJ train me in basic self-defense. I can put Marshall on the ground any time he gets out of line.”
Ron looks at the two of them, Marshall is your typical linebacker about six foot three and two hundred and ten pounds of muscle. Misty is a petite young woman of seventeen and you would assume any physical conflict between the two would be one sided and all Marshall. Marshall and I both know better my basic class in self-defense would probably get most of them a green belt but most likely I would put Misty at Brown if I had to choose based on the experience she has.
Marshall chuckles looking at Misty he says, “Misty you know I would never give you any reason to put me on the ground. First of all I love you and I will not do anything to ever hurt you. Second I’m not stupid I seen what JJ students can do. It was funny as hell when Kara was throwing around that Lineman that grabbed her. He had probably close to eighty pounds on her and she was tossing him around like a ragdoll.”
With a chuckle I told Ron, “Ron, Kara could easily get a black belt if I have the certifications to give it. I train self-defense at our local high school, and have since I started there is a student. Kara has taken two of my classes, as her physical education. Next year she’s already signed up for the advanced classes I will be giving.”
Ron asks, “I guess that means you are multiple black belts?”
I state flatly, “Yes I am, and in two disciplines.”
Marshall chuckles and says, “Before you challenge JJ to a fight ask him to break a few two by fours.” Marshall was in the crowd when that smart mouth backed down.
Reese giggles and asks, “I love to see this, JJ how many two by fours can you break?”
I shrugged my shoulders and say truthfully, “The last time I was breaking two by fours was about four years ago. At the time I could break five.”
Marshall points out, “There is a lot of scrap lumber around here right now want to see if you can do six?”
Chuckling I say, “Not really, if you don’t get it just right you can break your arm, hand and fingers.”
Marshall chuckles at my response and asks, “Why did you do it before?”
I point out to him, “If you remember that knucklehead wanted to fight me. It was a lot better breaking four two by fours then his head.”
Chuckling Marshall says, “Yes that ended most of the tough guys trying to see if they are tougher than you.”
Kathryn says, “Of course when I told people about the bear, them knowing you could break all those two by fours before made it believable.” Kathryn has a very tired Sam and she sets her in my lap. Sam puts her head on my chest and closes her eyes. I hadn’t realized it but it was time for Sam’s nap, I hold Sam close and let her fall asleep. We are basically done for the day after buying the corn. I whisper, “Class dismissed.”
Reese smiles at me watching me pet on Sam, I walk over to the bed with Sam. Sam wakes up as soon as I lay her down, and she has a pleading look I know what she wants. Sam hasn’t got to sleep on my chest in a while. I lay down with Sam. She climbs up on my chest and goes back to sleep. I let my hand gently caressed Sam’s back which relaxes her. Reese takes one long look, giving me a smile as she walks over to the elevator with Ron, Marshall and Misty. As the doors close I hear Reese say, “I used to sleep on my Daddy’s chest just like that.”
Kathryn slides in beside us and her arm goes crossed Sam’s shoulders. Sam and Kathryn are softly breathing and the quiet of the room soon has me drifting off as well.
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